8/29/2012 8:00 PM

The condenser converts leftover steam used to spin the turbine back into water. The water is reused to make more steam to power the turbine.

Specifically, station technical experts will work on small water tubes located within the condenser unit and will perform other maintenance activities while the unit is offline. Once the work is complete, the unit will be returned to service.

Dresden Unit 3 will continue to provide electricity to customers.

Dresden Generating Station is approximately 60 miles southwest of Chicago. The station's two operating units can produce more than 1,700 megawatts, enough to power nearly 2 million average homes. Dresden Unit 1, which began commercial operation in 1960 and was retired in 1978, has been designated a Nuclear Historic Landmark by the American Nuclear Society.